EOD projects in 2013
In 2013, we completed a total of 71 projects. of which 53 were EOD projects. Some examples are given below.
Historical study in Muizen
Sita Remediation charged Bom-Be with a desk study concerning UXO on a site in Muizen. Based on such a Survey, Bom-Be also provides comprehensive advice concerning safety measures for future activities.
Preliminary survey in Ochten
At the request of Aeres Milieu, Bom-Be carried out a desk study on the presence of UXO in a project area known as the ‘Oranjestraat’ in Ochten. Suche a study consists of an inventory and analysis of historical sources. The end result is a report with an map of the UXO load in the soil.
Preliminary studies for housing developments
Consultancy Aeres Environment assigned two historical UXO surveys to Bom-Be, regarding the Dutch locations of Buren and Dodewaard. Both projects are situated in intense WWII combat zones, so it is mandatory to take into account that this dangerous heritage might surface during the planned activities.
Belgian EOD takes over in Wetteren
At the request of Public Works Tavernier, Bom-Be rounded up a detection survey on an industrial site in Wetteren, where the soil is still littered with grenades of a wide caliber range. At the first detection in 2012, some parts of the site weren’t accessible. These parts were now detected with a multisensor magnetometer set-up. The number of detected possible positives was so high that DOVO, the Belgian military EOD section, eventually took over the site.
Mammoths in the Dordtse Kil?
The town of Dordrecht assigned the surface detection and layered digging of a future industrial construction site to our Dutch sister company Van den Herik, and Bom-Be personnel was also called in. Even though we were looking for ammunitions with calibres of 20 mm and higher, we also discovered something completely different: a fossilised heavy bone fragment of about 50 cm long. A first view we think it’s a piece of a mammoth bone, but we will leave the determination to the paleontologists. Maybe you have an idea of what it is?
Protection of hoppers at sea
Bom-Be hires out anti-shrapnel covers – with Kevlar or aramid – to Tech Trade, who use these covers to protect crew and ships during dredging operations at sea.
EOD – Rental
Ammunition in the port of Antwerp
Cordeel NV asked Bom-Be to perform a manual surface detection in the Noord Natie Terminals area, where groundworks were going on at the time. Reason for this request was a previous find of ammunition on these grounds, like an antitank grenade type PAK 40 and some shells.
Depth detection in Mechelen
Bom-Be carried out a depth detection for the Van Wellen contractor company on the Engema construction site, since a previous historical survey had indicated the possibility of aerial bombs on the site. Based on our experience with similar sites, we were able to foresee that the topsoil was contaminated with metals, like bolts and furnace slack, rendering a surface detection impossible. To deal with this situation, the contractor dug out 56 openings to a depth of 1 m, or until where the contamination stopped. These points where then detected from the surface, followed by a depth detection with a cone penetration truck.
Construction site in Caen
For our French sister company Dianex, we performed a surface detection on a construction site with risk of encountering aerial bombs.
Incendiary grenade in De Biesbosch
Engineering firm Oranjewoud engaged our Dutch colleagues of Van den Herik for a project of sludge remediation in De Biesbosch National Park. Bom-Be personnel collaborated in the detection of the coarse fraction after the sieving of the sludge, and was able to secure a 20 mm semi armoured piercing anti-tank incendiary grenade.
EOD – detection of sludge – magnetometry
Depth detection on the water
The port authorities of Rotterdam contacted our Dutch sister company Van de Herik concerning the declassification locations for pillar foundations under water, near the container depot of Cetem. The area is suspect for encountering aerial bombs from WW II. Bom-Be assisted the depth detection, executed from a pontoon.
Projectiles in the polder
Following an historic survey, Bom-Be performed a surface detection in Waspik (NL) on a site of 3 ha, and the subsequent approaching of suspicious objects, by order of Combinatie Hollandsche Waard- Overdiep, who had planned groundworks up to a depth of 1m. We secured Rocket tubes, incendiary grenades (with white phosphorus) and remnants of other types of ammunition.
Multisensor magnetometer survey in Andelst
Project Geurdeland is situated in the town of Andelst, and part of the site is suspect of the presence of war ammunition. The town assigned the detection and approaching to Bom-Be. We detected the area of 10.000 m² approx. with a multisensor magnetometer set-up, in accordance with the WSCS-OCE regulations.
Assistance for projects in the Netherlands
Bom-Be regularly assists Dutch EOD companies for preliminary studies, detections and approaching of UXO. For example, we assisted the colleagues of our sister company Van den Herik at depth detections for construction projects on ‘Kop van de Beer’ in the Rotterdam Port and in Hellevoetsluis.
Nature development project ‘Schuddebeurze’ in Lombardszijde
VLM Regio West asked Bom-Be to perform an historical survey in view of the Nature development project ‘Schuddebeurze’. During WW I, the front line ran through this area, so there is a real risk of this dangerous heritage surfacing during the planned groundwork activities.
Grenades in the brook banks
Along the Grift brook in the village of Epe, nature friendly banks will be implemented. Our sister company Van den Herik was assigned the explosive ordnance survey by the hydrographic board ‘Vallei en Veluwe’, based on the results of an historical study which assessed the possibility of ammunition finds with calibers up to 7,5 cm, at depths up to 1,5 m. Bom-Be and Van den Herik personnel performed analogue and computer-aided detections, and were able to secure various items of artillery and tank grenades.
Historical survey and surface detection in Sankt Vith
Bom-Be searched for UXO on a project location in Sankt Vith, in view of future ground works. During the Battle of the Bulge, the area was heavily bombarded from the air. In preparation for this detection, we first consulted our collection of historical aerial photographs and georeferenced them on the site. Later, we located possible UXO by surface detection, and we performed control detections at borehole drillings up to 5 m depth.
EOD – historical UXO survey / surface & depth detection – magnetometry
Detecting and approaching in Bastogne and Vaux-sur-Sûre
By order of BNP Paribas SA, Bom-Be performed surface detections on two future building sites, both known as combat areas during WW II. Searching for ammunition sizes like hand grenades and bigger, we counted more than a thousand metal objects on each site. Consequently, about a hundred significant results on each site were selected and approached. In Vaux-sur-Sûre, this led to the securing of three artillery grenades.
Detection for directional drilling near Merelbeke station
Bom-Be performed a GPR detection in preparation of a HDPE 50 mm directional drilling of 140 m long near Merelbeke station. A preliminary historical survey had revealed that the area is suspect of aerial bombs from WW II.
EOD – surface detection – GPR
Historical survey for bus depot Louvain North
On the former marshalling yard of Belgian Rail, north of the Louvain train station, Flemish bus company ‘De Lijn’ has planned a new bus depot. During WW II, the area was scourged by military actions, and bombarded several times. Bom-Be investigated the possible presence and dangers of UXO, and clarified questions about the location (x,y,z), quantities and types of ammunition to be found. Based on this survey, a project-specific problem and risk analysis was drafted
Allocation at the Menen Road in Ypres
Bom-Be performed a depth detection in view of an allocation project in Ypres, in order to declassify an area where 85 drillings to a depth of 15 m for the construction of foundation pillars. At a later stage, Bom-Be also assisted the excavations in order to approach suspect objects in the soil. We secured 4 artillery grenades and 14 detonators.
EOD – depth detection / approaching – magnetometry
Incendiary Bombs in Maastricht
AVG asked Bom-Be to perform a surface detection and UXO approachings on a site in Maastricht. We were able to secure more than 100 remnants of 4 lbs. incendiary bombs.
EOD – surface detection / approaching – magnetometry
Wind farm construction in Poperinge
During WW I, the battle grounds covered the area around Poperinge, where a new wind farm is planned. The aim of the surface detection we performed was to see if the planned track for the fiberglass cables between wind turbines could be declassified for the presence of UXO’s, in view of a directional drilling operation at a depth of 4 m. We found a hand, rifle and artillery grenade, and some 80 kg of fuzes and boosters.